SSC CGL Notification 2026 Out: 12,256 Vacancies; Apply Online Before 22 June

SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by the Staff Selection Commission on 21 May 2026 for the Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026. According to the official notification, the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is tentatively scheduled to be conducted between August-September, 2026. Eligible and interested candidates who wish to appear for SSC CGL 2026 can now fill out the online application form till 22 June 2026. Before applying, candidates should carefully go through the eligibility criteria and exam pattern prescribed by the commission. The SSC CGL Notification 2026 will include complete details, including the application process, exam pattern, syllabus, salary structure, vacancies, and important dates. Scroll down to get an update on complete information related to SSC CGL 2026 here and get the official application link.

SSC CGL Exam 2026: Overview

The SSC CGL Notification 2026 has been released to recruit candidates for multiple posts across various departments, ministries, and organizations under the Government of India. Candidates planning to apply for SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 can refer to the table below to check all the key details and latest updates related to the examination.

SSC CGL Important Dates 2026

As per the official schedule, the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam will be held between August and September 2026, and Tier II is tentatively scheduled for December 2026. Candidates can check the table below for all the important dates related to the SSC CGL Exam 2026.

SSC CGL 2026 Recruitment: Important Links

SSC CGL Application Link 2026 is now activated on 21 May 2026, along with the release of the official notification. Candidates who are planning to appear for the SSC CGL Exam 2026 must complete their application within the specified timeline. In the table below, we have provided all the important links related to SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 for easy reference.

Major Changes Introduced in SSC CGL 2026 Recruitment 

The SSC CGL exam is one of the most sought-after examinations conducted by the commission, attracting a large number of candidates every year. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts this exam annually to recruit candidates for non-gazetted Group ‘C’ posts and non-technical Group ‘B’ posts in various ministries and departments of the Government of India.  The major changes introduced for the SSC CGL 2026 recruitment cycle include: 

• In previous years, candidates had a free-flowing 60 minutes to attempt all 100 questions across four sections in Tier I. Starting in 2026, SSC has introduced a mandatory 15-minute sectional timer for each section in Tier I. 
• For the Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer posts, Paper-III (Finance & Economics) has been reintroduced in Tier-II. 
• When applying via the official portal (ssc.gov.in) or the upgraded 'mySSC' Mobile App, candidates can no longer upload pre-existing passport-sized photographs. They must capture a live photograph using a webcam or smartphone camera during the application process. 
• State Cadre Language Mandates: SSC CGL Posts are now split into Central and State Cadres; if canmdidate choose State Cadre positions, they must fulfil local language proficiency requirements (reading, writing, and speaking) at a matriculation level to be eligible for the post.
• Candidates having a degree in Computer Science, IT, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also eligible to apply for the Statistical Investigator Grade-II post.

SSC CGL Vacancy Details 2026 

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the tentative vacancy details for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination, 2026 along with its official notification. Through the SSC CGL 2026 recruitment drive, the commission will fill a total of 12,256 vacancies for various Group 'B' and Group 'C' posts across multiple Union Ministries, Government Departments, and Constitutional Bodies. 

The CGL final vacancy will be announced by the commission on the official website (ssc.gov.in) after the completion of the Tier-II examination and before the declaration of the final merit list. 

SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria 2026 

The SSC CGL 2026 application process has begun with the release of the official notification, and candidates can apply within the given time frame. Before filling out the application form, it is important to carefully review the SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria, which includes details such as nationality, age limit, and educational qualification. Below, we have provided the complete eligibility criteria for SSC CGL 2026.

Nationality 

• A candidate must be either: 

1. An Indian Citizen, or 
2. a subject of Nepal, or 
3. a subject of Bhutan, or 
4. a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

Note: A candidate who requires a certificate of eligibility may be admitted to the Examination, but the offer of appointment will be made only after the Government of India has issued the necessary eligibility certificate to him (hereinafter referred to as 'him/her').

SSC CGL Age Limit 

SSC CGL Age Limit varies from post to post. In this section, we are providing a table with the SSC CGL 2026 Age Limit for each position:-

SSC CGL Age Relaxation

Candidates belonging to certain categories may be granted an upper age relaxation (mentioned in the table below) as per the government rules and regulations.

SSC CGL Educational Qualification 

SSC CGL Application Fee

The application will not be processed until the application fees are paid in full. The following are the application fees by category:

Mode of Payment

The SSC CGL application fee can be paid "Online and Offline" both methods. 

• Online payment modes include Net Banking, debit/credit cards, as well as BHIM UPI. 
• Alternatively, candidates can also pay the fee offline in cash through the SBI branches by generating an SBI Challan.

Candidates are advised to keep a copy of the application form and payment receipt for future reference.

SSC CGL Documents Required 2026

Candidates applying for SSC CGL 2026 should keep the required documents ready while filling out the online application form. Having these documents prepared in advance will help ensure a smooth and error-free application process.

Documents Required for SSC CGL 2026 Application Form

While filling out the SSC CGL online application form, candidates will need the following documents and details:

• Live Photograph: Captured directly using a webcam or smartphone camera during the application process (No uploaded photos allowed).
• Scanned Signature: Cleary scanned as per the prescribed format and size.
• Matriculation (Class 10) Certificate: For verifying the Date of Birth and Father's/Mother's name.
• Graduation Mark Sheet and Degree Certificate: To fill in the graduation roll number, passing year, and marks.
• Valid Photo Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport, or Driving License.
• Applicable Category Certificate: SC/ST/OBC/EWS certificate (if applying under any reserved category).
• PwBD Certificate: If applying under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category.

Candidates must ensure that the scanned signature and live photograph are clear, as blurry images can lead to the rejection of the application form. 

SSC CGL Selection Process 2026

The SSC CGL 2026 selection process is based on two stages, i.e. Tier I and Tier II. A candidate must pass each stage of the CGL Exam in order to be finally selected.

The following are the minimum qualifying marks in Tier I and Tier II:

• Unreserved: 30% 
• Other Backward Classes/Economically weaker section: 25%
• All other categories: 20% 

Candidates will be shortlisted for Tier-II examinations based on their performance in Tier-I, which is a computer-based examination. Candidates must qualify in each section of Paper-I separately.

Rules for Tier 2 Evaluation:

• On the basis of overall performance in Section I and Section II of CGL Paper-I, candidates will be shortlisted for the evaluation of Section III (Computer Knowledge Test & DEST). Candidates who do not secure the minimum qualifying marks in Section I and Section II will not be evaluated further.
• Section III of Paper I (Computer Knowledge Test & Data Entry Speed Test) is qualifying in nature, except for specific posts where higher qualifying standards are set.
• Separate cut-offs will be released for Paper-II (for JSO/Statistical Investigator) and Paper-III (for AAO posts) based on the candidate's post preferences.

For more detailed information, candidates can refer to the official notification.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026

The SSC CGL exam is conducted in two stages, Tier I and Tier II. Candidates planning to appear for SSC CGL 2026 should clearly understand the latest exam pattern to prepare effectively for both stages. Check the detailed exam pattern for Tier I and Tier II of the Combined Graduate Level Examination below.

SSC CGL Tier-I Exam Pattern (Revised)

There will be 4 sections in Tier-I, and candidates will get a fixed time of 15 minutes to attempt each section. 

Note: 

• Tier I will include Objective Type-Multiple Choice questions. Except for English Comprehension, the questions will be set in both English and Hindi. 
• Each incorrect answer will result in a 0.50 penalty (negative marking).

SSC CGL Tier-II Exam Pattern (Revised)

Note:

• There will be a 1 mark deduction for each incorrect answer in Section-I, Section-II, and Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I, and a 0.50 mark deduction for each incorrect answer in Paper-II.
• The Data Entry Speed Test is compulsory for all posts; however, it will only be qualifying in nature.
• Paper-I and Paper-II will be administered in separate shifts during the Tier-II examination, and Paper-I is mandatory for all positions.
• Paper-II will only be for candidates who apply for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) positions in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and are shortlisted in Tier-I. 
• Paper-III will be only for candidates who apply for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) and Assistant Accounts Officer posts and are shortlisted in Tier-I.

SSC CGL Exam Syllabus 2026

Candidates must be familiar with the SSC CGL Exam 2026 Syllabus to perform well in the examination. In this section, we are providing the SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 for both Tier 1 & Tier 2:-

SSC CGL Tier-I Syllabus

Tier 1 is the first stage of the exam. It will be administered online, and the questions will be objective in nature. The indicative SSC CGL Tier I syllabus for all four subjects is listed in the table below. 

Note:

Parts A, B, and D will have questions at a level commensurate with the required qualification, namely graduation, while Part C will have questions at the 10th standard level.

SSC CGL Tier-II Syllabus

Level of questions in each paper:

• In Module-I of Section-I of Paper-I (Mathematical Abilities), the questions will be of Matriculation Level.
• In Module-I of Section-II of Paper-I (English Language and Comprehension), the questions will be of 10+2 Level. 
• In Paper-II and III of the Graduation Level.

SSC CGL Admit Card 2026

The Staff Selection Commission will issue the admit card for the CGL examination 3-4 days prior to the exam date 2026 on the website of the commission's concerned Regional Office. The SSC CGL Admit Card can only be downloaded and printed from the official website. Candidates should be aware that the SSC will not send them a hard copy of their admit card. Candidates must have pertinent information such as their Username/Registration Number, Password/Date of Birth, and so on. 

To download your SSC CGL Admit Card for Tier-I and Tier-II separately, follow the steps below:

• Visit the regional website of the SSC.
• Under the Latest News Section, click on the "SSC CGL Admit Card 2026" link.
• A new window will open, prompting you to enter your credentials (Registration Number/Password) and the captcha.
• To download the admit card that appears on your screen, click submit.
• Print both the Admit Card and the candidate's Instructions page.

Candidates should also keep in mind that the SSC CGL Admit Card is the most important document, as without it, no candidate will be admitted to the exam.

SSC CGL Answer Key 2026

The SSC CGL 2026 Answer Key will be released by the Staff Selection Commission after the examination is conducted. Candidates will be able to check their responses and compare them with the tentative answer key to estimate their scores.

Candidates can follow the steps below to check the SSC CGL Answer Key 2026:

Step 1: Open the website of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

Step 2: Go to the “Answer Key” section on the homepage.

Step 3: Click on the link for SSC CGL Answer Key 2026.

Step 4: Log in to the candidate portal using your Registration ID and Password.

Step 5: View your response sheet and download the answer key for reference.

The commission will also provide an objection window for candidates who wish to challenge any answer in the SSC CGL Provisional Answer Key. To Raise Objections against CGL Tier I or Tier II answer key, candidates can follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to your account using the required credentials.

Step 2: Select the question(s) you want to challenge.

Step 3: Upload valid supporting documents or justification for your objection.

Step 4: Pay the prescribed fee for each question challenged.

Step 5: Submit the objection form within the given time limit.

Candidates should ensure that objections are submitted within the specified period, as no requests will be accepted after the deadline.

SSC CGL Result 2026 

The SSC CGL 2026 Result will be declared by the Staff Selection Commission in multiple stages, including Tier I and Tier II. Candidates must qualify at each stage as per the cutoff to move to the next phase, and the final result will be prepared after the completion of all stages of the selection process.

Candidates can follow the steps below to check the SSC CGL Result 2026:

Step 1: Open the website of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

Step 2: Click on the “Results” tab available on the homepage.

Step 3: Click on the link for SSC CGL Result 2026.

Step 4: Open the result PDF and search for your roll number or name.

Step 5: Download and save the result for future reference.

The direct links to download SSC CGL Tier 1, Tier 2 & Final Result will be provided in the important links section above.

SSC CGL Exam Cut-off Marks 2026 

The Staff Selection Commission will release the SSC CGL Cut-off Marks 2026 along with the declaration of the result for Tier I and Tier II examinations. SSC CGL Cut-off marks are the minimum score candidates must secure to move to the next stage of the selection process and be considered for final selection in Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts across various government departments and ministries. Only those candidates who secure marks equal to or above the prescribed cut-off for their category will move ahead in the selection process.

The SSC CGL cut-off is determined by the commission after considering several factors, including the total number of vacancies, number of candidates appearing for the exam, difficulty level of the paper, and overall performance of candidates. The cut-off is released category-wise for General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and other category candidates.

To understand the expected competition level for SSC CGL 2026, candidates can refer to the SSC CGL Cut-off marks of the 2025 examination. 

SSC CGL Tier I (Prelims) Cut-Off 2025

The SSC CGL 2026 cut-off will be updated here once the result is officially declared. Candidates are advised to keep checking for the latest updates and analyse previous trends to set a safe target score.

SSC CGL 2026 Salary

The SSC CGL 2026 Notification will include detailed information regarding the salary structure for various posts under different pay levels. The salary varies based on the post, department, and level of responsibility, along with additional allowances and benefits. Below, we have provided an overview of the SSC CGL 2026 salary structure.